Mejorar

Feb Week 2 Roundup

2012-02-19T13:17:00.000-05:00

Here are this past week's outfits! Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Pretty somber compared to last week, ha?

Which one did you like the most? The least? Any suggestions? I love feedback, and it does not have to be of the adoring kind- real constructive criticism is also welcome and appreciated.

Perspective

2012-02-18T10:45:00.003-05:00

Top- Maurices
Cami- Express
Cardigan- Ann Taylor via Ebay
Jeans- Old Navy
Necklace- UO
Boots- JCPenny

These are my 'fat' jeans. They are super stretchy and loose in the waist, so they feel more like pajamas than pants. These are my go-to pants for when I want to be comfortable and still look like a human being participating in normal society.

Do you have anything in your closet that you default to for comfort?

ETA: On another note, my friend's baby was just born, and a grandmother (that was a co-worker of mine) just passed from cancer. Happy birthday Calli, rest in peace Eileen. And to the rest of the people I know who's birthday is today/was yesterday- Happy Birthday Rick, Hannah, Lisa, & Kim.

Chains

2012-02-17T15:54:00.003-05:00

Top- Thrifted

Jacket- ArdenB

Boots, Jeans, Bracelet- JCPenny

Necklace- Maurices

So, here is a simple outfit.The leather jacket actually is a perfect fit but doesn't look good in this picture. These are my winter snow boots (NOT UGGS, I need a detail shot to show you what they look like), and some pretty jewelry to jazz up a simple tee and jeans.

HAPPY FRIDAY everyone! : )

Age

2012-02-16T10:05:00.002-05:00

Sweater- F21 (08'?)

Cami- Express

Pants&Bracelet- JCPenny

Shoes- Debs

Necklace- Loft Outlet

So, today I feel like this outfit is a little 'young' for what I want to portray here at work. Tight pants, tight top, and the style of this sweater is decidedly young. But it is fun at least :). I think it would be better with a wide-leg trouser or just a better fitting pant.

I'm soon to hit 25, but I really care about the messages I send with my clothing. I want to be appropriate and mature in my style, but also young and fun like I should be in my mid twenties. I want to go to work looking capable and professional, and go to college and not stick out like a sore thumb/get confused with teachers. I think I have been doing OK at this, but I still have a lot of room for growth.

Do you put any thought into your outfits when it comes to being age-appropriate, or looking younger/older than you are?

Limiting Factors

2012-02-15T17:25:00.002-05:00

Top- Loft outlet

Cardigan- Ann Taylor via Ebay

Pants- BR

Shoes- Charlotte Russe

Bracelet- JCPenny

Necklace- Maurices

Today's outfit was insprired by the bracelet. ETA: wow, I need to iron this shirt! Just realized it's a mess.

When dressing in the morning, there are some things that really limit my style possibilities. To be clear, I don't think it is necessary to have a lot of items in your closet to look put together or fashionable. In fact, the opposite is usually true- the more variety, the easier it is to get stuck wearing something that doesn't work, or not looking very cohesive day-to-day. But I have made a lot of choices that limit me- some due to impulse buying (see the other day's post on impulse buys), and some due to intellectual choices.

For one, I have chosen the wrong footwear over and over again. It's like I am developmentally behind in the shoe department, which I am very aware is important for any basic wardrobe. For example, I have a pair of burgundy stilleto (well, close) ann taylor pumps. I have been unable to style them, and they are not comfy. The color doesn't work with 95% of what I have. I also have a pair of clunky cork wood/black patent sandles I have worn 1x. As for things I could actually use? Not many. It's pretty sad. I need to learn how to pick shoes that I need and will work well in my wardrobe. There are lots more examples I could give you- like my belts. I own two belts that fit ok- and neither are simple, so they don't work in most outfits. Or my overabundance of cardigans (many of which are too boxy for my shape or too small) that really gets me stuck in a 'uniform'.

Another example is the choices that I have made intentionally. I refuse to buy leggings, jeggings, or anything of the sort. I think they are absolutley unprofessional, no matter how they are done. And I don't think they qualify as pants or psudo-pants. This limits some of my possibilities with styling, but I am 100% fine with that. I could be more open about it and try it for my weekend wear, but I'm just not ready to go there (and doubt I ever will be). Another example would be my disinterest in purses. I have 1 big tote I use for school, and a little purse that is so worn out I almost never use it. Bags are supposed to be a part of the 'look', and I fail in this catagory. I should probably have a couple nice bags and alternate them, but finding the interest in me to purchase them is like finding a needle in a haystack. I always avoid the purse section.

What are some intentional and unintentional limiting factors in your wardrobe?

Late

2012-02-14T18:59:00.001-05:00

Top- Loft Outlet

Pants&Cardigan- JCPennys

Shoes- Charlotte Russe

Earrings- H&M

Necklace- Gift

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

Had a busy day, so just a quick outfit post.

Mirrors

2012-02-13T19:29:00.001-05:00

Top- Express
Cardigan- JCPenny ($12 right now!)
Jeans & Boots (not pictured) and all Jewelry- JCPenny

So, yet again not a full shot (no head to toe mirrors around on Mondays!). Sorry that the pictures came out so dark and terrible! I tried but the lighting I guess was just no good. The cardigan is actually a very pretty light knit and is navy, though it looks almost black lol.

Hope you had a great day! : )

Feb Week 1 Roundup

2012-02-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

Here are the outfits I have worn the last week. Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (I get Sundays off, and my weeks start on Saturdays).

Which are your favorites? Least favorites? Any suggestions?

Rule Breaking

2012-02-10T14:33:00.001-05:00

Top- Loft Outlet

Cardi- Express

Jeans- Hollister '06 (I have refused to buy from this brand since then)

Shoes- Kohls

Necklace- Maurices

Today, I am breaking rules in the office. Ripped Jeans are not permitted, even on casual Friday. And while I usually never break the rules, I felt like it wasn't too bad today. Partly because I am only in the office in the afternoon (I start the day off at college) and partly because I have not been able to fit in these pants since 2008 (so mini celebration for fitting into them again).

Happy Friday!

Special-Occasion Dresses

2012-02-09T11:03:00.000-05:00

Cardigan- Maurices

Dress- Express

Shoes- JCpenny

Necklace- Gift (12th Birthday to be exact, so 12+ yrs ago)

To start this off- I love this dress. This dress is a really great versatile dress. It can be dressed up and dressed down. Obviously it's not the BEST example of a versatile dress- the neckline and cut does limit it's application a little bit. But I can wear it to the office, dress it up for a wedding, go on a date, and I can make it more casual for the weekend.

When thinking about dresses, I have only a few- 8. And they get minimal wear- in fact, 4 of them were only worn 1x. Who isn't guilty of buying a dress for a special occasion- only to not wear it again? I would hazard a guess that most of us are. For instance, the following two dresses:

This 1st dress was an expensive party dress from Express for $148. The second was $55.65 from Loft.

The 1st dress is obviously very occasion specific. And I looked great in it, so I bought it and wore it even though it was prohibitively expensivee (2011 holiday party). That is a lot of $ to spend on a special occasion dress, especially if only worn once! When I bought it, I promised myself that I would find more occasions to wear it at- even if I have to make one up. While I haven't yet, I hope I will (I've only had this dress since mid-January). I rarely buy dresses for occasions (or even wear dresses, which is sad). I don't subscribe to the idea that you HAVE to buy a dress that is versatile, though it is the best option when talking about cost-per-wear. But, I also hate the idea that we must buy a new dress for every occasion! The second dress should have been more versatile, but the cut and fabric is formal, and the hemline too short for work in most cases. I loved it, but don't know how to wear it again (wore to a wedding, May 2011).

Before going out and buying a dress for a special occasion, you (and I!) should try the following:

Is this an event where a dress would be appropriate? (no, not every occasion calls for a dress- and not every situation would be comfortable in a dress)
Go into this with a positive attitude- because it is easy to self defeat, especially if you prefer shopping to re-wearing or re-inventing.
Throw every dress you own on your bed and evaluate each one. If it is too formal, think about how you might be able to dress it down. If it is too casual, think about how you can dress it up. Put the ‘no’ dresses back into the closet. Do NOT remove dresses from the pile that are too simple- it is so easy to accessorize and glam up simple dresses.
Try on each of the dresses you have left in the pile, and think about how you could make it work.
If you really are left with NO options, then go ahead and go shopping. Be careful when picking a dress out to buy, and keep in mind that you may want a dress you can re-wear to other occasions and cost per wear.

I’m not trying to say that you can’t buy a dress just because you like it for a special occasion- just that it is easy to get into the shopping mindset for every occasion. IMO buying dresses specifically for special occasions should be minimized- maybe 1x a year, instead of ‘I need a dress for (Valentine’s Day, my Birthday, the Christmas Party, New Years Eve, my cousin’s Wedding, my nephew’s graduation, my spouse’s award ceremony, etc etc.). Buying a versatile dress that can be dressed up or down is a great idea- but the best idea is ACTUALLY doing it, instead of leaving it hanging in your closet.

While making this post up, I remembered a great post from Sal at Already Pretty: How to wear a formal dress to the office. Perhaps I should try this with my 2nd dress up there and see if I can tone it down for the office?

Budget vs. Impulse

2012-02-08T16:25:00.000-05:00

Top- Kohls

Pants- BR

Necklace- NY&Co

Flats- Charlotte Russe

Ack, so pictures were just not working today. I think it looks a ton better in person. I hate these flats (they are really wearing out) and this would have been a lot better with a skinny belt at the waist (which I tried, but mine was waay too long). This outfit is a transitional outfit, because Wednesdays I go from college to work- so it has to work for both, including my several mile walk at school.

So, yesterday I told you guys I was going to delve further into the topic of budgeting for spending and impulse buying.

I'm going to come clean- I love budgeting, and am good at saving, but somehow I always go over my budget for clothing. I aim low, and I end up a bit higher every time. Most would say to take that into account and budget higher, but I don't want to do that- I want to control my impulses better (note, my spending does NOT put me into debt or leave me unable to save).

I know that when walking into a store, I should have a reasonable amount of $ in mind to spend. One of two things always happens- I walk out with nothing, or I overspend. Focusing on the overspending- when I look at what I have in my closet, I feel guilt. There are some things I have purchased that I have not really used more than 1x or 2x, things that don't fit me or my style well- which is terrible utilization of $. So I see hanging $ signs, and wish I had spend that $ wisely. At the same time, I should get rid of those things if I can't make them work- but I feel guilty, as if I was throwing $ away. So they sit there and make me mad at myself lol.

To better this area of my life, I need to do a few things- focus on making sensible purchases, not overspending, and get rid of what does not work. Not easy tasks. Some of my items are super nice and should be used, but don't fit in my style. Like the wide leather belt I have- it's too wide and a bit too big for my waist. Ex (outfit from last year):

Pretty belt, but you can tell it doesn't fit- it's not centered because it's on the smallest belt hole and is still a bit big. It's also wider than my actual waist, so it doesn't work with my body- it fights it. I think I paid $45 for this? I need to go check. Anyway it is a pile of sad wasted $. I also went through an ill-fitting skirt phase- I went crazy buying skirts, and didn't realize that just because they didn't fall down when I was wearing them didn't mean that they fit my body...

My rule of thumb has always been: if you are tempted to spend more than what you planned on spending, either save for it (because if it's worth it, I will save for it), or skip it (because this means it is an impulse buy). This is really hard to follow through, though. Lately I have been learning to do a few things that help me not overspend.

When online shopping, leave it in the cart for a week. If you still remember exactly what it was that you wanted and did not forget about it, then it's probably safe to consider purchasing.
NOTHING is worth rushing or overspending for. There always will be another pretty skirt, shoe, dress, whatever on sale somewheres that I will want, guaranteed.
STAY AWAY from sales e-mails and consumer blogs. The more often a blog posts things to buy, the further away I stay. Nothing is worse for me than feeding the shopaholic addiction.
Stay away from retailer sites/stores unless I am looking for something specific. Shopping is NOT a healthy way to pass time or to get rid of boredom! Retail therapy is not the answer.
Make a list of things that would better complete your outfits. Tally up the things that come up the most frequently and consider purchasing- mine have been a light-colored blazer, fun flats, a black trench coat, and a pretty-colored pump. Remember that this list is NOT needs!!!!! This is not a free pass to buy something because I 'need' it!
When shopping, keep in mind BASE, the budget, and the list of things I can use (discussed above).
Lastly, when buying something I have to focus on NOT being influenced by other bloggers. Just because it's something my favorite blogger would wear or looks like something expensive I liked does not mean it makes sense to buy it.

What do you do to control your impulses, or how do you decide to purchase something?

BASE

2012-02-07T10:58:00.000-05:00

Necklace, Cardigan- Maurices

Top, Pants- Express

Shoes- JCPenny

First up, the outfit. I'm really into it. I only wish the top was an inch or so shorter to get a better proportion. Again, a fun color in the shoe would probably make it better, but I don't own a shoe that would work. I think I have around ~14 pairs total, including sneakers.

So, last night I was watching What Not to Wear (favorite guilty pleasure). I have a DVR (amazing BTW! Have had it for almost 2 months now) and when I have a chance I will sit down and watch WNTW, which usually ends up maybe 1x a week. I have learned so much from Stacy and Clinton, seriously. Anyway, last night they had made up an acronym for a woman who just didn't know what to buy/had no shopping standards.

B- for BODY- does this item FIT and FLATTER my body?

A- for Age Appropriate- is this age appropriate for my age and life?

S- for Situation- is this item versatile, and is there a situation that this is appropriate for?

E- for Expense- is this item worth the $ I am spending on it?

If an item met these four BASE guidelines, then it was worth purchasing. They also often point out that outfits should have these 3 things to make them visually interesting:

Shine, Sparkle, & Texture

I am going to use these for myself when shopping and getting dressed.

The only other thing I would add would be to go in stores with a set budget and do not go over it for anything. If an item exceeds the budget, then it should indicate that either you should save for it or it's a silly impulse and will pass. This is something I am working on with the self-improvement, a better/more in depth post is to come on this subject.

What can you add to these guidelines?

Peekaboo

2012-02-06T16:58:00.002-05:00

Top- Kohls

Necklace- UO

Cami- Maurices

Pants- JCpenny

Bracelets- H&M

So, me again! Just a quick post today, sorry you can't see head to toe. I have slim bootcut jeans on with tan sketchers FYI. Worn walking around college all day- I swear I walk about 7 miles a day if not more.

This top makes me happy. Waist definition, peekaboo lace sleeves/shoulders. The white cami (can't see well) has a pretty lace floral edge to it. Not sure about how I could improve the outfit, but the make-up was only so so today.

Hope you had a great day : )

Back

2012-02-05T13:39:00.000-05:00

So, after many months of distance from my blog, I have decided to come back.

I want to make it clear that while I certainly have been out of focus in the past, I have a new direction for this blog. I'm planning on mixing the vanity shots/outfit pics with my overall goals of becoming a better person. I'll be working on this as we go along. The new title is Mejorar- Spanish for 'to improve'.

This is not where I will spend a lot of time. I work full time, go to college, and have a life- I have friends, I practice piano, go ice-skating, and go to zumba tone classes. I'm much happier and more fulfilled than I used to be.

I still have an interest in personal style and improving my 'style'. Over the last few months I have found myself and my style aesthetic. Reading 100's of fashion blogs and being influenced by them while shopping created a crazy disconnect in me- so I stopped that too. Now I can read a select few, but for inspiration- not for the shopping/fashion addiction. I feel like my eyes are open and the fashion blogging goggles are off for good.

I don't expect to get a lot of readers- and I don't expect adoring comments. Be honest. I have no problem with negative feedback- and while I am still learning to dress to flatter my figure, I can still appreciate honest feedback. I won't be fishing for readers/comments or posting things just because everyone else is. I also will not be doing this for any incentives- no advertising, no c/o anything, no giveaways. Just me.

And here is an outfit I am wearing today, just to get this started. Yes, crappy cell phone pictures- this will not be changing. I'm not a fashion model, and I don't have a photo-boyfriend who can take quality pictures for me. I don't know how to edit pictures with photoshop. I don't have the time or inclination to make this look like a magazine, so this is what you get.

Leather Jacket- Arden B
Shoes, Jeans, Top, Bracelet- JCPenny
Necklace- Debs from 05?
Earrings- too old to remember

ETA: I wanted to comment on what could improve each outfit. So I'll start here- the shoes are too matchy matchy, something more fun would be great like a purple shoe instead. Which I don't own, so these made do. The jewelry is kind of too 'going out' or night-time, but I thought it was fun.

also, I didn't realize I left this private. oooppps. :)

One last thing. Please, don't comment just to throw your link or giveaway on my blog. Comment because you want to, not because you want traffic.

Undecided

2011-08-18T13:03:00.003-04:00

So, I wanted to ask all of you that may still care to read/visit;

I've been contemplating quitting the blogosphere. I have not been getting that many comments, and it seems that interest in general is gone from my blog. It may have run it's course, and it's time to move on.

What say you?